About the programme

Mission

The Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme is the key driver in enhancing the lives of young people living with diabetes. This programme will become an integral part of the International Diabetes Federation’s increasing efforts in supporting leadership programmes of member associations and thereby enhancing the lives of people living with and at risk of diabetes more fully and powerfully.

Vision

To provide the opportunities for future leaders in diabetes around the Globe.

Philosophy

Young people must be respected for their ideas, wisdom and creativity; young people have a voice which will enhance the IDF mission and help improve the lives of those living with diabetes around the world.

The proposal

The Initial Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme in Dubai will be the staging ground for the future. Leaders from around the globe will be identified. These young leaders will form a council which will meet at regional meetings outside of the biennial congress.

Two leaders will be elected from each region and these two representatives from each region will make up the council of 14. This council will then be the organizing committee for youth programmes at future congresses.

Young Leaders attending the programme in Dubai are asked to do a project which will improve the lives of those with diabetes in their respective countries. Some people have already identified that they will form a youth group as their project. Others have said that they will raise awareness of diabetes. It does not have to be unique. Some have said they will produce a newsletter. We would like applicants to come to Dubai with an idea of a project but there will be ample time in Dubai to discuss the project. In addition it would be most helpful if applicants could provide a name of someone from within their member association who could be a mentor.

Background

The incidence of diabetes continues to grow at an alarming rate. Some of the most concerning growth is occurring with youth under 25 in each of the seven regions. The Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme has the potential to become the leading effort in enhancing lives of young people living with diabetes as it becomes an integral part of the International Diabetes Federation’s growing success.

Young Leaders in Diabetes Dubai 2011

The IDF World Congress in Dubai was the staging ground for the first international young leaders in diabetes leadership training programme. 85 young people with type 1 diabetes, 20 to 30 years of age, representing 55 countries from all around the world, participated in this programme. These young leaders had to find their own funding for travel and accommodation. This was a difficult challenge for many but their perseverance paid off offering them the opportunity of a lifetime. Member associations were asked to recommend applicants resulting in a cohort of young people with established leadership skills and a fundamental understanding of the federation.

The programme was ambitious, with sessions starting early in the morning and finishing late at night. Much of the success of this programme was due to the international faculty who came together from around the world to share their experience and expertise. Several faculty members put together creative ice breaking events in first few days which helped the young leaders to bond, both as friends and as a unified and cohesive group.

The young leaders rapidly earned the respect of the faculty and all with whom they came in contact with because of their commitment and determination. They proved themselves time and again, examples being an outstanding performance at the IDF member associations ‘strategic planning session, enthusiastic participation in the global village and awareness walks and various speaking engagements at the Congress.

One of their goals was to form a Young Leaders Council and elect its first officers. The newly elected president is Alex Silverstein from the UK. The President Elect is Keegan Hall from South Africa, with Sana Ajmal from Pakistan as Vice President. In addition two elected members from each of the seven regions serve on the council. Several of the young leaders have been identified to assist with the webpage. This will provide a valuable forum for discussion and reporting progress in the development and implementation of projects in the period between Dubai and Melbourne.

Through role play, interactive sessions and talks from well known people with diabetes the young leaders developed skills that enhanced their leadership abilities and the prospect of their becoming agents for change. They had the opportunity to experience sailing with an ocean racing crew, who have participated in international diabetes challenges, and enjoyed a traditional night in the desert where they danced as one under a full moon.

At the beginning of the programme they almost unanimously identified hope for people with diabetes as a principal goal. They now have to return home to their respective countries and work with their member associations to make a difference. For many this will be relatively easy as they return to a strong organization ready to support them. For others, though, it will prove to be more difficult as their member associations are not so well developed and have less resources to call upon. However, through shared communication within the young leaders group and their pledge to help the disadvantaged, it is believed that any such challenges can be successfully met.

This programme was made possible through the generous support of several sponsors to whom we are eternally grateful. The founding sponsors are Bayer HealthCare, Medtronic and Novo Nordisk. The other sponsors are Lilly Diabetes, Sanofi Diabetes, FEND and Roche Diagnostics.

Young Leaders in Diabetes logo

The incidence of diabetes continues to grow at an alarming rate. Some of the most concerning growth is occurring with youth under 25 in each of the seven IDF region International Diabetes Federation’s Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme (YLD) aims to become the leading effort in enhancing lives of young people living with diabetes. This programme will help to provide opportunities for future leaders in diabetes around the globe by developing projects which will improve the lives of those with diabetes in their respective countries.

In September 2011, the YLD logo competition was launched to select a unifying symbol for the programme. The competition attracted 15 entries from young leaders all over the world and all participants in the programme were invited to vote for their favourite logo on the YLD website.

45 votes were cast and the logo with the most votes was that of Claudia Labate from Brazil. Claudia is 23 years old and has worked closely with the Juvenile Diabetes Association of Brazil (ADJ)since 2009, where she is currently responsible for social media. She has also co-authored a children’s book on diabetes which will be published at the end of November.

IDF would like to congratulate Claudia and all the participants for the great art work they have produced. Debbie Jones, IDF Vice President, and Chair of the IDF Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme said: “I am really glad to see that the Young community is so eager to be part of the IDF mission and help improve the lives of those living with diabetes around the world. The Young Leaders in Diabetes Programme in Dubai will be the staging ground for the future and I am really excited to start working with them.”